Heartbreak was far from the theme of Carly Rae Jepsen's catchy, career-launching Grammy-nominated radio hit, "Call Me Maybe" – but in her latest single, the starlet touches on romance gone wrong.

Reliving the past failed relationship that inspired "Tonight I'm Getting Over You," Jepsen, 27, recently explained at PEOPLE's pre-Grammy soiree at Sayers Club in Hollywood, "As an artist, it's fun to explore [my] many sides and sort of go through my experience with love in a more personal way. I hope you haven't experienced it, but I certainly have had that relationship that is on-again, off-again and good and bad."

The singer – who has most recently been dating fellow musician Matthew Koma – goes on to say, "With this particular song, it was sort of that decision that even though [the relationship] is hot and cold, sometimes you've got to move on."

Wednesday brought the nominations for Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards, set to air March 23 with Josh Duhamel as host.

For favorite musical group, nominees include Big Time Rush, Bon Jovi, Maroon 5 and One Direction. Favorite Song nominees include: "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen, "Gagnan Style" by PSY, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" by Taylor Swift, and "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction, of which Swift's ex, Harry Styles, is a member.

"We are delighted with our nominations for the Kids' Choice Awards," Styles said in a statement to PEOPLE. "It was amazing to perform 'What Makes You Beautiful' at last year's show. Thank you as always to our incredible fans and supporters!"

While the northeast braved a midwinter blizzard, the West Coast was feeling the heat – and we're not just talking about the comparatively warmer weather.

With the Grammy Awards on the horizon, the most famous faces of the industry were in their finest form Saturday to celebrate music's biggest night.

John Mayer and Katy Perry took their date night up a notch at Clive Davis and The Recording Academy's Annual Pre-Grammy Gala at the Beverly Hilton hotel, where they were spotted holding hands while Patti Smith performed. The couple was color-coordinated: he was in a white dinner jacket and black bow tie, and she wore a white designer dress.

Carly Rae Jepsen has sold millions of copies of her Grammy-nominated smash single "Call Me Maybe" and had a successful U.S. debut album Kiss – so did the Canadian pop star blow wads of cash on gifts for herself this Christmas?

Not exactly.

Jepsen says one of her biggest splurges this holiday season was a present for her father. "I'm getting him the same guitar that James Taylor plays," Jepsen told PEOPLE just before Christmas. "And I'm getting it engraved."

If you answered, "Swag," first, please leave that word in 2012. If you answered, "They have more money than I do," well, you're probably right. But they're also featured in this epic mashup of the biggest U.S. hits of 2012. Yet again, DJ Earworm has cut together the biggest singles of the year, from "Call Me Maybe" to "What Makes You Beautiful," creating one masterful pop song, "The United States of Pop."

Labor Day brings barbecues, major sales – and the official end of summer. But what will you listen to when you're wearing your white shoes for the last time and scarfing down some treats fresh off the grill?